Egyptian+Social+Pyramid

The American Dream, an archetype of modern society, gives hope to lower classes and promises prosperity to those who can work hard. Whether or not this "dream" is a reality may be questionable but can it be applied to ancient cultures as well? Would an individual of a lower class be able to rise through the stratified classes of a society?

What is known of ancient Egypt's social classes and their relative frequencies within the population is derived from recorded numbers of mass graves in comparison to the elaborate and glamorous halls and tombs of the upper class. From these studies, one may draw parallels to modern society and the current distribution of wealth as much of Egypt's wealth was controlled by a select few.

Various historians may classify the population using different standards. Whether it is Herodotus, who classified the people by their craft, or other accounts which choose to create social classes, one thing is for certain: //Egypt was a stratified culture//. Most classes were passed down through heredity however, in various instances, a career in the military or priesthood could change one's life.

Nobility
At the pinnacle of cultural status and wealth is the pharaoh, king, of Egypt. While existing within the nobility class, the pharaoh was unchallenged and his power was near absolute. He was seen and revered as the living god.

Other nobility derived their power from hereditary lines and the pharaoh's own reliance upon them. Power was almost exclusively passed within a select group of families. The nobility served as government officials, military leaders, and a select percentage of the priesthood. They also ruled on a local level. This group of people controlled nearly all land. Since the pharaoh could not be responsible for every aspect of government, many individuals of this ruling class came to power by acting on his behalf.

Scribal Class
Individuals who had been taught to read and write could in some cases rise to positions of high power. This intellectual class took on positions in skilled labor such as architecture, mathematics and the priesthood.

They commonly owned property but with several exceptions, did not command much authority beyond that of the nobility. Rather, this class received social status from their education. Commonly, this education was derived through family lines as parents educated their children in their own craft and thus passed on their position.

In some cases, a religious or priestly position within this class could lead one noble status.

Working Class
Ancient Egypt's working class was made up of farmers, craftsmen, much of the military and other commoners. This was the largest population and the most diverse in wealth and position. Some workers were employed by the state. They did not own their own land and were in a position with little chance of growth. Others owned their own land, employed their own workers and even owned slaves.

The few that could read and write had the tools necessary to rise into higher positions of power over time. This was particularly important to artists who were were often required to copy religious texts in their work.

Members of the military could move into positions within the intelligentsia and nobility through both military success and good fortune with members of the upper class.

Outcasts
Since even today, it is the mighty and educated who write history, not much is known about Egypt's outcasts, beggers and slaves. From some records, it can be inferred that some were scholars and members of the intelligentsia that had fallen on rough times.

“//...but also I have nothing to wear and we are living in the open. Will you kindly then order them to give me 4 drachmai, that I may buy at least an old cloak ..//.”
 * P.Mich.:1:90, 3rd century BCE APIS record: michigan.apis.1781**

Slaves, who were referred to as “tools that speak” were treated better than in most cultures of the time and even have the opportunity to rise from their lowly class. A career in the military could change one's fortunes. Additionally, slaves had the opportunity to inherit their owner's wealth and position if they died childless.

Works Cited and Further Reading
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 * "Ancient Egypt." __Wikipedia.org__. 26 Feb 2009 .
 * Kibbutz, Reshafim. "The social classes in Egypt." __reshafim.org__. 26 Feb 2009 .
 * "Social Systems in Ancient Egypt." __crystalinks.com__. 26 Feb 2009 .
 * Download this page as a PDF:** **[[file:Egypt Social Class.pdf]]**